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Adventists Share UN Concerns for Peace and the Environment

New York, NY, USA... January 31, 2002. Seventh-day Adventist Church representatives attending a United Nations meeting entitled "Peace and Environment: Opening of a Season for Nonviolence" commented that many UN positions on these issues are also shared by the worldwide Adventist church.

"In so many ways we also identify with such concepts," states Samantha Burchard, UN liaison officer for the Adventist church. "The promotion of peace and concern for the environment are biblically-based and part of our system of beliefs. So as Adventists, we endorse efforts to reduced armed conflict and to care for the world we live in."

Jamaican Ambassador Patricia Durrant spoke on the involvement of children in wars and violence. "More than two million children are killed because of armed conflict each year," she commented, and urged organizations present at the meeting to "protect the earth for children."

Steven Rockefeller, Earth Charter Commissioner, identified the twentieth century as "the most violent century ever," and noted that "violence remains an obstacle to human development and peace."

On the environment theme, Adnan Amin, director of the United Nations Environment Program's New York office, called for "united action for the betterment of the environment," commenting that such issues are serious and important in underdeveloped countries, and that "the reason why there is an environmental problem in the twenty-first century is because people have too much or too little." Wangari Maathai of the Green Belt Movement in Kenya added to this theme, stating that "mother Earth is slowly dying, and eventually she won't be able to provide for humans anymore."

The January 31 meeting in New York brought together a wide range of representatives and non-government organizations, reports Burchard. "The Adventist church continues to do its part in these issues of vital concern for all, looking to improve the quality of life around the planet through direct action in areas such as education, health, and humanitarian aid."

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